HUNT CLUB’S MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25247, 28 July 1947, Page 4

HUNT CLUB’S MEETING

RACING

PAGE’S RAID WINS STEEPLES

SONERI TRIUMPHS IN BRABAZON HANDICAP

A splendid Grand National trial by Page’s Raid in the Homeby Steeplechase, and a sterling weight-carrying performance by the champion mare, Soneri, in the Brabazon Handicap, were the features of a good day’s racing under ideal conditions at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s annual steeplechase meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. Page’s Raid, a strongly favoured candidate for the 1947 Grand National Steeplechase even before Saturday, further enhanced his prospects when he won the Homeby Steeplechase with one of his typical determined finishing runs. Patiently handled by his rider, K. Thomson, he did not start to close on the leaders until passing the half-mile. He took the brush at the top of the straight four lengths behind Surpeen and Spanish Main, and trailed them to the last fence. Once over it he showed too much stamina for Spanish Main and Surpeen, and won going away by a little more than a length. Spanish Main showed that his race in the July Steeplechase at. Trentham had improved him and jumped freely throughout. He fought on in dogged style in the straight and must again enter considerations for the Grand National. Surpeen gave a splendid display of jumping throughout and it was only in the last half-furlong that he started to weaken. Several times in the race he out jumped the field.

For Test Pilot the race spelled disaster. as he had the misfortune to break down in the running. At the far turn, after clearing the sod wall, he was with Page’s Raid when he appeared to falter slightly, but carried on. He battled on over the next two fences to finish fourth some distance behind the placed horses. Royal Writ made a poor showing on the firmer Riccarton going. He had all four legs bandaged and moved scratchily before the race. Although he fenced in his usual neat style he drifted early in the running and was always well in the rear with Abbey Lu. The latter just plodded along throughout. The other runner to finish was Filibeg, which, after being in front with a round to go, gradually faded out. and finished last. The casualties in the race were Night Prince, and Master Play. The former was elimi-? rated at the sod wall at the five furlongs! the first time, while Master Play lost his* rider when he hit the sod wall near the; nine furlongs, very hard. He was going! Well in fourth place at the time.

From the start Master Play showed out| from Filibeg. Surpeen. and Page’s Raid, with three lengths to Royal Writ and. Test Pilot. Master Play was steadied in. behind Surpeen and Filibeg after clear-, Ing the Kennels double with Test Pilot> and Page’s Raid next. Down to the stand double Surpeen and Filibeg led Spanish Main. Master Play, and Test Pilot, with Page’s Raid showing the way to Abbey Lu and Royal Writ. Going into Cutts’s Spanish Main moved up to join Filibeg, and Surneen dropped back to take the fence with Test Pilot, but moved up to joirf the leaders at the next fence, the sod wall, where Master Play went out. Along the back Filibeg drooped back a little, and Test Pilot moved up to join Surpeen and Spanish Main, Page’s Raid being eight to 10 lengths from the lead-, ers at that stage. Surpeen jumped clear of Spanish Main and Test Pilot at the Kennels double, where Page’s Raid was three lengths behind Test Pilot. At the sod wall Surpeen again outjumped Spanish Main, and Page’s Raid moved up to join Test Pilot. The leaders kept togetherover the next two fences, with Surneen jumping the better, but Spanish Main gained again op the flat, and Page’s Raid followed the pair closely. At the last fence Surpeen and Spanish Main jumped together, just clear of Page’s Raid. In a hard struggle in the run home. Spanish Main had gained the unper hand of Surneen with half a furlong to run. but Page’s Raid finished with great determination and wore him down to win by a length. Surpeen finished doggedly a neck behind Spanish Main. The rest followed at intervals. Soneri’s Great Performance Soneri gave probably the greatest performance of her career when she mastered 10-13 in the Brabazon Handicap to score her seventh win at Riccarton and maintain her unbeaten record there. The crowd gave Soneri a great ovation as she returned to scale, and never was such a tribute better deserved. Soneri drew No. 17 at the barrier in the large field of 27 that started, but was somewhat favoured by fortune. In the scrimmage that took place at the start Whitley. Soneri. and Findon. which drew’ 16. 17, and 18 respecively. started from No. 8. 9. and 10 positions. Soneri w r as also fortunate that the field was dispatched just as she was turned into line and she was one of the first out. Deep Harmony, in one of his generous moods, ran a splendid race for second. Lord Elgin made a forward showing. but weakened right on the post and Findon. which finished very fast from a long way back, got up to dead-htat with him for third place, the pair being only a neck behind Deep Harmony. Whitley was first out from Soneri. All Quality. Flying Orders. Lord Elgin, and Pensacola. but Flying Orders quickly went through to the front after a furlong to be clear of Whitley. Soneri. Deep Harmony. Lord Elgin, All Quality, Te-Muka. Sumra, Pensacola, Lexia. and Riverview. At the half-mile Flying Orders was just showing the way to Deep Harmony and Whitlev. with Lord Elgin and Soneri next. Deep Harmony headed Flying Orders as soon as the field straightened up. with Soneri. Whitley, and Lord Elgin following. Then came Pensacola and Lexia, with Detain wide out. and Findon. further back. Soneri headed Deep Harmony before the final furlong and Broughton gave nothing else a chance. Deep Harmony held on solidly for second, a length away, while Findon finished in splendid style on the outer to get up and deadheat with Lord Elgin for third. Dash o’ Dink also come home well in fifth place, as did Riverview, w’hirh finished in line with Flying Orders. Then came Lexia. Niehtblush, Cipher, and Good Cast. The meeting attracted a good attendance and the totalisator handled £63.112 10s. compared with £59.904 10s. Results:— CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CUP STEEPLECHASE Of £l6O. Gentleman riders. Two miles. 2. 3—J. D. Roberts’s FAIRYHOUSE by Day Comet—Fairness lOyrs 11-7 Owner 1 3. I—A. C, Wright’s Edward lOyrs 11-6 .. .. Mr R. D. Westenra 2 7. B—W. D. McLeod’s Tissue Paper 9yrs 11-0 .. Mr L. R. Hillis 3 1,2 Waihopi; 4. 4 Golden Glow; 5, 5 Mittens; 8. 7 The Pie; 6, 6 Real Night also started. Half length; 12 lengths. The Pie fourth. Time, 4min Isec. Winner trained by F. D. Jones, Riccarton. LAWFORD HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE Of £4OO. About two miles and a half. 4- 4—E. J. and G. Francis’s BRAVURA by Sporting Blood—Feogan Byrs 10-0 .. W. Barr 1 B- 5— H V. Wareing’s Hughsotis Byrs 9-0 car. 9-3$ .. R. A. Gibson 2 3- 3—N. Rutherford’s Appeasement 10-7 B. J. Langford <j 2, 1 Ballaggan and Waihopi bracketed; 1,2 Troy town also started. Four lengths; eight lengths. Ballvaggan fourth. Time, smin 17 l-ssec. Winner trained by W. Barr, Riccarton. HALDON STAKES Of £4OO. Special conditions. Six furlongs. First Divison 9- 9—P D. Hall and B. G. Rutherford’s BALLOCHBUIE bv Balloch —Queen Brierly 2yrs 8-0 G. Hampton 1 "• 5—J. E. H. Linley’s Magnaform - - - N. Davison 2 21. 21—G R. Macdonald's ’ Confidence Trick 2yrs 8-0 car. 9-0$ , . H. W. Hibberd 3 4. 6 Dark Arrow; 18, 17 Imasong; 22 22 Miss Mahatma; 2.2 Wide Range- 19 20 Broie; J 4; . 13 Cerisette; 10. 10 Detract; 12. 14 Golden Hope; 5. 4 Ned Kelly- 11 11 Royal Saleve; 7. 7 Weldrest also started’ Length; length. Golden Hope fourth Time, Imm 14 3-ssec. Winner trained by C. Emerson, Riccarton. Second Division ®* and p - c - Webb’s MAKA MAKA by Buiandshar— Pakitere 2yrs 8-0 .. L. J. Ellis 1 8- B—C. C. Davis’s Carry On 2yrs 8-0 17 ’ I £lj V ' L ‘ McKenzie ' s 20. 19 Gay Quest; 15' 1T Agenda^°3 3 Beaugard; 14. 13 Jacquee; 16, IS Count Minerva; 13, 12 Faultrosa: 1. 1 Gold Medallion; 6 3 Lodestar: 11. 11 Paramour; *• • Strathconan also started Length; three lengths. Lodestar fourth Winner t *' ned by L -

Gt STEEPLECHASE Of £6OO. About two miles and a half. M- E ’uA ßr^nton ’ s p AGES RAID Hald —Royal Coat 7yrs a p ~l. 3 , f _ - - K. Thomson 1 6 - ? nd Estate J. s. Hazlett s Spanish Main 9yrs 9-2 A P- Hawes 2 G Campbells Surpeen lOyrs 2.2 Royal Writ; 8, 7 3 Test Pilot; 5, 5 Master Play; 7. b" Night «-rtnce; 9. 9 Abbey Lu also started g Length; neck. Test Pilot fourth. Time smin 9 3-ssec. Winner trained by H A Anderton, Wingatui. CAMLA HACK HANDICAP Of £3OO. Seven furlongs. *• Crosby’s GANJAH by Nizami—Lady Rampion 3yrs 8-12 V J. Stokes 1

5. 4—J. M. Samson’s Peculate syrs 9-2 .. H. W. Hibberd 2 W- 9—A. J. Tutton’s Deficiency 4yrs _ 8-2 G. Hampton 3 1, 1 Our Maureen; 6. 6 Sandy’s Pride* 7, 7 Mestiza; 11, 12 Royal Flash; 2.2 Front Page; 8. 8 Connaught; 3, 3 Royal Robe; 9, 10 Desert Victory; 13, 11 Quadrille; 14, 14 Fort Silver; 19, 17 Fading Light; 15, 15 Repudiate; 12, 13 Blue Husmar: «Y. 3113 "* Urince; 16, 18 Stand To; 18. 16 Polka also started. Three lengths; neck. Connaught fourth. Time, Imin 28 3-ssec. Winner trained bv J. G. Crosby, Te Rapa.

LONGBEACH HURDLES, Of £5OO. One mile and three-quarters. 9. 7—E. J. Burns’s THE RAKER by Croupier—Kippit Lee lOyrs 10-0 car. 10-3% .. .. p. Corboy 1 3. 3—W. E. and Est. J. S. Hazlett’s Kassai 9-0 .. W. Hillis 2 4. 4—W R. Shattock’s Khadim 6yrs , 9-11 .. .. m. Bedford 3 1, 1 Matapan; 7, 6 Forage; 2,2 Olga’s Choice; 8, 9 Sphere; 5, 5 Pedantic; 6. 8 Periwig also started. Length; half length. Sphere fourth. Time. 3min 19sec. Winner trained byowner, Washdyke. BRABAZON HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Seven furlongs. 1. I—C Cunningham's SONERI by Buiandshar—Lady Lyric 4yrs 10-13 W. J. Broughton 1 12. 12—C. Whitford’s Deep Harmony 4yrs 7-10 A. Stokes 2 7. B—Smith Bros’. Findon 6yrs 9-7 C. T. Wilson t 17. 16—J. E. H. Linley’s Lord Elgin 4yrs 9-2 .. ..A. E. Didham f 4. 4 Bridge Acre; 3,2 Lexia; 2, 3 Pensacola; 9. 10 Detain; 15, 15 Flying Orders; 5, 5 Whitley and Clyde Bridge; 19, 20 Sumra; 6, 7 Lord Dundonald; 20, 19 Matador; 18. 17 Miss Medley; 21, 21 Good Cast; 10, 9 Cipher; 23, 22 Eudora: 16, 18 Martial Note; 11, 11 Riverview; 13. 13 Kirkella; 22. 23 Lambro; 8, 6 Dash o’ Dink and Nightblush bracketed; 24, 24 All Quality; 14, 14 Te-muka and Sahib also started. Length; half length. Time, Imin 27 2-5 sec. Winner trained by D. J. Burgess, Otaki. KENNELS HACK HANDICAP, Of £3OO. Nine furlongs. 1. 2—Mrs J. P. Drury's COPPER COIN by Leighon—Pennywise 3yrs 9-10 .. K. Thomson 1 3. 3—R. P. Register’s Beechwood 4yrs 8-8 .. P. Jones 2 4. 5—L. A. and Mrs Lamboume’s Penetrate 3yrs 8-3 .. L. J. Ellis 3 10, 10 Foreign Ways; 8, 7 Queen's General; 9. 9 Aldis Lamp; 11, 11 Kill Fast; 5, 4 Laila Meer; 6, 8 Stabilisation and Vulnerable bracketed; 12, 12 Altruist; 7, 6 Robingay, 13, 14 Kosciusko; 2, 1 Bobby Dazzler; 16, 16 Flakewood; 14, 15 Wandering Minstrel; 15, 13 Paper Pattern also started. Four lengths; three lengths. Bobby Dazzler fourth. Time. Imm 55 3-ssec Winner trained by E. W. A. Rosewarne, Riccarton. 1